rtarby, Thu, September 17th, 2009
We all know that the indefatigable singer-saxophonist is a charter member of the Syracuse Area Music Awards Hall of Fame, having entered at the first Sammy Awards show in 1993, at the Landmark Theatre.
Godfather of Rock’n’Roll
But after turning 82 years young in July as he continues performing several nights a week, Jimmy deserves to be recognized not only by his fans and colleagues but by the entire world.
Why? Because he was one of the pioneers of rock’n’roll.
Consider this:
Jimmy Cavallo recorded “Rock the Joint” before Bill Haley.
Jimmy Cavallo played rock’n’roll before Elvis Presley graduated high school.
Jimmy Cavallo recorded for Coral and Decca in the 1950s and toured on rock’n’roll package shows with the likes of Big Joe Turner and Fats Domino.
Jimmy Cavallo & The House Rockers was the first white rock’n’roll act to play Harlem’s celebrated Apollo Theater, in 1956, a year before Buddy Holly & The Crickets.
That same year, ’56, Jimmy and the band made a movie with legendary NYC disc jockey Alan Freed, Rock, Rock, Rock, named after Cavallo’s original tune of the same title.
No wonder Upstaters all consider Jimmy our beloved Godfather of Rock’n’Roll.
Remember Sorrento’s?
Still not convinced our homeboy deserves the international recognition of the R’n’R Hall of Fame?
You should have been at Sorrento’s 60 years ago, in the autumn of 1949. After a summer during which he helped establish The Shag and The Hucklebuck dance crazes on Carolina Beach, Jimmy returned to Syracuse, hooked up with local musicians Sam Barone on bass, Al Antonello on drums and Mike Peluso on piano and went looking for gigs. White-owned clubs still booked big bands, so Jimmy played in black clubs like The Penguin. In late-1949 his uncle, who owned Sorrento’s, booked him there. The uncle and his primarily Italian audiences expected standards, but when Jimmy played uptempo R&B the crowd went crazy. The Jimmy Cavallo Quartet started packing the place. And they played all the R&B they wanted.
In the summer of 1950 Jimmy scored a steady gig at DiCastro’s in Sylvan Beach. Word spread swiftly across CNY, and before long Jimmy was drawing more than 1,000 young rockers every Sunday afternoon, kids from Utica, Syracuse, Rochester and Binghamton.
In 1951, the foursome added trumpeter George Horton to cut two records for the local BSD label in the Auburn basement of label owner Angelo Pergolito. The titles were “Ha Ha Ha Blues” and “I Got Eyes For You.” The second disc was Cavallo’s cover of Jimmy Preston’s “Rock The Joint,” and the flip side was Jimmy’s own “Leave Married Women Alone,” co-written by Diz Utley.
Besiege the Hall of Fame
And those are just a few reasons why Jimmy Cavallo should be in the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame which was formed in 1983 “to recognize the contributions of those who have had a significant impact on the evolution, development and perpetuation of rock’n’roll,” according to its Web site.
Jimmy qualifies for induction as an “Early Influence,” defined as “artists whose music predated rock’n’roll but had an impact on the evolution of rock’n’roll and inspired rock’s leading artists.”
The Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame Foundation’s special selection committee elects the inductees in the Early Influences category.
We should all call, write and e-mail the R’n’R Hall of Fame to demand that Jimmy be inducted ASAP. The phone number is (216) 781-ROCK. E-mail: staff@rockhall.org
The address is
Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame Foundation
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
Festa’s favorite son
Jimmy Cavallo entertains joyously with his honeydripper voice and honkin’ saxophone at Festa Italiana 2009, at 5 p.m. Friday Sept. 18, 1:30 p.m. Saturday Sept. 19, and at 3:30 p.m. Sunday Sept. 20.
He’ll be accompanied by his old pals from the State Street Band (a.k.a. The Houserockers), guitarist John LaTocha, bassist Chuck Sgroi and drummer Tommy Rozzano. For good measure, Jimmy usually books a keyboardist like Andy Rudy or Jimmy Cox as well. They’ll play Jimmy’s 1950s hits plus tunes by Sinatra, Bennett, Prima and Ray Charles.
Other notable Festa sets this weekend will be performed by The Scintas at 9:30 p.m. Friday, 9 p.m. Saturday and 5:30 p.m. Sunday; Atlas at 7:30 p.m. Friday, and Letizia & The Z Band at 2:15 p.m. Sunday.
The Festa is yet another of downtown’s many free summer festivals.
Visit festaitaliana.bizland.com/.
Pro Victims cry tough
Professional Victims, a smart and sharp-edged modern rock trio featuring husband-and-wife singers Shawn Sullivan and Ashley Cox and drummer Corey Koniz, celebrate the release of their debut disc, Penalties & Punishment at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at the Westcott Theater, 524 Westcott St.
Sullivan wrote 11 or the disc’s tracks such as “Scratches & Dents” and “Red Velvet Rope,” while Koniz penned the title tune; myspace.com/provictioms.
Sirsy and The Details complete Friday’s triple bill; $10; 299-8886.
Tipp Hill rocks Saturday
If you dug the Irish Festival last weekend in Clinton Square, why not head over to the West End this Saturday, Sept. 19, for the Tipperary Hill Music Festival? Hey, why not? It’s free!
The third annual celebration of the neighborhood’s rich and diverse musical heritage, the one-day festival will be staged at the Pass Arboretum across from Avery, Salisbury, Whittier avenues and the Burnet Park entrance. In case of rain, the show goes on at the Burnet Park Ice Rink Pavilion.
Some 2,500 people attended last year’s fest, enjoying food and crafts and the good vibes emanating from marvelous music played in a pastoral setting. The music will, of course, pay homage to Tipperary Hill’s Irish roots but will also branch out to include rock’n’roll, bluegrass, blues and rockabilly. Sixteen acts will perform on four stages.
Performers include The Sim Redmond Band from Ithaca, John Cadley & The Lost Boys, Dusty Pascal, The Adam Fisher Group, Brian Frances, Frank & Burns, Independent Louis, Maka Rouge, Quigsy & The Bird, Smart Alec, The Causeway Giants, The Fabulous Ripcords, The Freeborn Men, The Mere Mortals, The TippHillbillies, The Tom Dooley Choraliers and The Z-Bones.
Master Thieves hit O’Dea’s
Though the festival concludes at 7 p.m., music continues throughout the neighborhood as the Mike Estep Band rocks Coleman’s Authentic Irish Pub at 100 S. Lowell Ave (476-1933); Master Thieves steal away to George O’Dea’s, 1333 W. Fayette St. (478-9398), and Soul Risin’ rises up at the Limp Lizard Lounge, 4628 Onondaga Blvd. (472-7831).
What else? Besides food and crafts festival-goers can receive some free musical instruction and purchase hand-made instruments. There will be a Time Warner Cable “Kids Korner” with children’s activities, including a “Learn How to Plant a Tree.” New this year is an open mic Talent Stage for all ages, with sign-ups starting at noon, at the Field Stage.
The Tipperary Hill Music Festival Legacy Award will be presented to outgoing Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll for his support of local music and arts-related events, but don’t let that political back-slapping scare you away. Regardless of what you think of Mayor Doolittle, simply applaud politely and wait’ll the former owner of Rosie O’Grady’s sports bar finally relinquishes City Hall.
For info, call 299-4415, or visit tipphillmusicfest.org.
Down N’ Dirty
Through September, the blues and roots quartet named Down N’ Dirty hosts the Sunday night open mic nights at Rooter’s Tavern, 4141 South Salina St, in the Valley section of town; 492-9814. The weekly session runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
DnD features guitarists John Burwick and Randy Jorgensen and bassist Dave Martin. They’re presently auditioning drummers.
After playing a rare afternoon gig at 2 p.m. Oct. 24, at The Mill, 1417 W. Genesee St., Down N’ Dirty returns to Rooters every Sunday in November.
Check ’em out at downndirtyband.com.
Redundancy Dept.
One of our favorite signs at the New York State Fair:
“Today’s Daily Schedule.”
Oops!
In a Sept. 3 Downtown After Dark item headlined “Burying the hatchet,” about Stephanie Miner returning to The Jim Reith Show Sept. 2 on WSYR radio, I neglected to list one of Miner’s three primary opponents. I inadvertently left out the name of Carmen Harlow, one of the four Democratic candidates who ran in the Sept. 15 primary. Sorry about that!
Reach Russ at rustarby@netscape.net.
